there is no reason to panic until the dogs begin to lie on each other’s bellies & make love like humans. this will surely be the time when sharks build houses out of snow & whale songs are played on the radio. this will be the time of alcoholic babies & washing machine pornography. until this happens, there is no reason to panic, continue killing trees. if history has taught us anything it is: shoot first, bathe later & never confess when the toothbrush is still wet. this will be the time of the pagan rebirth of smoke & the sharks will hibernate with the bears & it will all happen in your living room or your garden. there is nothing you can do to stop it, it will be the end of laughter & the panic will wash over you like red wine on egyptian cotton.

______________________________________________________________ M.G. Martin is the author of One For None (Ink. Press, 2010). His work has appeared or is forthcoming in PANK, elimae, Everyday Genius and >kill author. He lives in Brooklyn. “the rebirth of smoke” is a finalist for The Best Short Writing in the World 2011.